HOT TICKET: For great evenings of entertainment, you can’t beat this season’s two Mt. Hood Repertory shows

Why are there six (6) working doors on the set of “Lend Me A Tenor”, the American Classics Theater Festival’s offering by Mt. Hood Repertory Theater Company? Read on and find out why you should be buying tickets.

In the Main Theater at Mt. Hood Community College, Maggie (Eleanor Cohn-Eichner) is the girlfriend of Max (Kirk Mouser), who is the assistant to the manager of the opera company that finds itself suddenly without a star tenor in the hilarious Broadway comedy, “Lend Me A Tenor”.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
We’ll tell you about the six (6) doors on the set of “Lend Me A Tenor” in a moment. But, if you’re looking for a touching, thought-provoking show, read below and learn about their second production, “Sea Marks”.

“Lend Me A Tenor” a comedic farce

Farce: Circus, a charade, a mockery, a ridiculous situation.
Comedic Farce: A very, very funny play based on situational comedy.

Mt. Hood Rep’s Artistic Director, Tobias Andersen, told us he chose Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me A Tenor” because “this award-winning comedy is one of the funniest farces to play Broadway.”

We’ll miss seeing Andersen’s consummate acting skill on stage in this, the tenth anniversary season of the American Classics Theater, hosted by Mt. Hood Community College. But, he directs a top-notch cast through a laugh-out-loud funny, fast-paced show.

Julia, (MaryAnne Glazebrook) the chairman of the Opera Guild calls on Bellboy (Matt Preston) for a spot of tea with Saunders (Alan H. King), Maggie’s father, and General Manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company.

Max finds out he must go on stage to stand-in for Tito Merelli, world-renowned tenor and expresses his terror to his boss, Saunders.

The story: As the Cleveland Grand Opera prepares for one of its biggest nights in history, world famous tenor Tito Merelli’s appearance on stage seems highly unlikely. But as we all know, the show must go on – under any circumstances, even if it means sending a replacement on stage: Max, a petrified-with-fright production assistant.

Diana (Beth McShane), an operatic soprano, makes Max an offer he, well, what do you think?

Wife Maria (Sarah Dresser) shares a moment with her husband, Tito Merelli (David Maier), the world-famous tenor known as “Il Stupendo”.

The six (6) doors
Why are there six doors? The characters are coming and going with split-second timing and keep “missing” one another. Without the six doors, the play wouldn’t work!

We’re not going to give away the “curtain call” at the play’s conclusion. But from what we saw, this could be the most hilarious two minutes you’ll ever see on in a live stage production.

“Sea Marks”

In the Mt. Hood Community College Studio Theater, you’ll find the moving story of Colm (Patrick Wohlmut) a fisherman/poet as he meets pen-pal Timothea Styles (Amanda Soden) in the next step of their complex relationship in “Sea Marks”.

In the more intimate Studio Theater, associate artistic director, Trisha Pancio-Armour directs “Sea Marks.”

This is a tale of a simple fisherman who discovers a poetic inner voice when he begins writing to a publisher’s assistant he meets at a cousin’s wedding. But when she decides to publish his intimate letters about life on the sea as a book of poetry, he is made into an instant celebrity. Suddenly, their simple love affair becomes very complex.

When and where:

Mt. Hood Repertory Theater Company Presents
10th Annual American Classics Theatre Festival

MHCC Main Stage
“Lend Me A Tenor”
opens Friday, July 28, 2006 and runs through August 20

MHCC Studio Theatre
“Sea Marks”
opens Saturday, July 29, 2006 and runs through August 20

Friday and Saturday evening performances at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m.

General Admission – $20.00, Seniors/Students $15.00
Festival Pass – $34.00 General Admission, $28.00 Seniors/Students

Mt. Hood Community College Theaters are located on SE 257th Ave (Kane Rd.); the driveway is south of SE Stark St. in Gresham. From I-84, take Exit 17 (Troutdale) and go east.

Information and tickets are available by calling The Rep at (503) 491-5950, on line at www.mthoodrep.org.

¬© 2006 David F. Ashton ~ East PDX News

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